Compression of air and utilization thereof.



N0. 637,66I. Patented Nov. 2 I899. E. E. P ETTEE -& J. J. McCUTCHAN.

COMPRESSION OF AIR AND UTILIZATION THEREOF.

(Application flle'd'oet. 24, 1899.

. (No Modei.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

I a F 6. 6 Q l I I Patented Nov. 2|, 1899.. E. E. PETTEE & J. J.McCUTCHAN.

COMPRESSION OF AIR AND UTILIZATION THEREOF.

. (Application filed Oct. 24, 1899.) Node) 2 Sheets-$heet 2.

NITE-D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD E. PETTEE AND JOHN J. MOCUTOHAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

COMPRESSION OF AIR AND UTILIZATION THEREOF.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 0. 637,661, dated November21, 1899.

Original application filed March 9 1899 Serial No. 708,421. Divided andthis application filed October 24, 1899. Serial No. 734,615. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, EDWARD E. PETTEE and JOHN J. MCOUTOHAN, .citizensof the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New Yorkand State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Compression of Air and Utilization Thereof; and we do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

In an application for Letters Patent of the United States filed by usMarch 9, 1899, Serial No.708,4=2l, we have described and claimed certainnew and useful improvements in methods for compressing and utilizing airfor motive purposes. The present case (which is a division of saidapplication) relates to apparatus for carrying out said methods.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents in plan view, partlyin section, an arrangement of parts embodying our invention. Fig. 2represents in central vertical section the compressor-and theexplosive-engine for operating the same. Fig. 3 represents a centralsection through the air-motor, and Fig. 4 represents a cross sectionthrough the air preheating and moistening tank.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout theseveral views.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the cylinder of theexplosive-engine, and A the piston thereof, said piston being connectedby the oscillatory rod B with the crank-shaft G. The piston D of theair-compressing cylinder E is connected to the crank-shaft G at an angleof one hundred and eighty degrees to the crank connection of theengine-cylinder by means of the rod B.

Upon the outer end of the crank-shaft O is mounted the balance-wheel F,fixed to the shaft, as is also the gear F, which gear meshes with thegear F fixed. to the cam-shaft F and of twice the diameter of the gearF. Upon the cam-shaft F are fixed the cams on a 0, Whichare adapted toactuate the corresponding rods a a a said rods being provided withsprings, as shown, for maintaining their lower ends in contact with thesurfaces of the cams. To the rod of is attached the valve 19 whichgoverns the inlet to the explosive-engine. To the rod a is attached thevalve b which governs the exhaust of the explosive-engine, and to therod a is attached the contact for closing an electric circuit throughthe conductors b 19 As the rod a rises it comes into electric connectionwith the insulated contact b so that when the rod a is withdrawn fromthe insulated contact an electric spark is formed to explode the mixtureof gas and air or oil-vapor and air within the space G. The explosion ofthe mixture causes the piston A to descend and drives the air-compressorpiston D upwardly, thereby compressing the air in front of the piston Dand causing it to pass through the exhaustvalve 0 into theconducting-pipe H. The air-compressor cylinder is provided with aninlet-valve 0 which opens and permits the entrance of air into thecylinder E on the downward stroke of the piston D.

To start the explosive-engine, the balancewheel F is turned onerevolution until the piston A has descended within its cylinder anddrawn air and gas or air and oil-vapor in their proper proportionsthrough the valve b which has been opened by the cam a as the pistondescended. When the piston reaches the downward limit of its stroke, the

cam a releases the rod a and the valve 19 closes. As the piston A risesthe mixture of air and gas is compressed within the space G and at thesame time the cam a raises the rod a, causing it to make contact withthe insulated contact b WVhen the piston A has reached the upper limitof its stroke, the balance-wheel F carries the shaft 0 somewhat past thecenter and the cam aireleases the rod 11 which immediately drops andbreaks the circuit, thereby causing an electric spark, which explodesthe mixture of gas and air and forces the piston A down within itscylinder, thereby revolving the shaft 0 and operatingthecompressing-piston 'D. As piston A returns to its upper position the cama raises the rod a and opens the valve b thereby allowing the explodedgases to 2 eta- 61 we provide an annular space c within which watermaycirculate from the water-reservoir M. From the space for thispurposepipes:

I 5 f f lead into the water-reservoir M and terminate below the level ofthe water therein, the water-level in the reservoir M being of suchheight as to leave a free space above the same, through which the airfor supplying the compression-cylinder may be drawn. To this end thewater-reservoir is provided with an inlet f so that the air entering atfshall pass through and in contact with the water in the receptacle M andfinally through the pipe f to the air-compressor cylinder.

The pipe H leads directly to the distributing-chamber N of the motorandis jacketed throughout its entire length by the exhaustconduit 07. ofthe explosive-engine, so that the heat developed by the compression ofthe air in the compression-cylinder shall be maintained by the hotproducts of combustion until the compressed air is delivered into themotor. The products of combustion enter the passage M, which surroundsthe distributing-chamberNand the cylinder P of the motor, and finallypass out through the ex haust-port n of the motor, together with theexpanded air from said cylinder. This latter feature is useful forpreventing the formation of ice at the'point of passage of the expandedair into the atmosphere, adifiiculty frequently encountered, especiallyin cold weather, and which sometimes results in di minishing and chokingthe exhaust-air outlet and finally closing it, thereby stopping themotor.

The motor-cylinder is provided with a piston P, and thedistributing-chest N is provided with a slide-valve N the latter-beingoperated by an eccentric or otherwise from the crank-shaft to which thepiston is attached, as will be readily understood. A branch H may betaken from the pipe H, if desired, to supply an auxiliary reservoir Ml,having a safety-valve 'm and catch m said reservoir being adapted toreceive a reserve or surplus quantity of compressed air to assist in theoperation of the motor when for a limited time its requirements aregreater than would be supplied by the normal output of thecompressor-cylinder.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is- 1. Thecombination with an air-compressor, of an explosiverengine operating thecoinpressor, a motor, a conducting-pipe from the compressor to themotor, and an exhaust-pipe from the explosive-engine, said exhaust-pipejacketing the air-conducting pipe, whereby the compressed airisdelivered from the compressor to the motor in' such manner as to whollyutilize the heat of compression; substantially as described.

2. The combination with an air-compressor, of an explosive-engineoperating the com- .pressor, a motor, a conducting-pipe for supplyingcompressed air to the motor, an exhaust-pipe from the explosive-engine,said ex hau st-pipe j acketin g the air-conductin g pipe, and the motorbeing provided with a chamber surrounding its working cylinder intowhich chamber theexhaust-pipefrom the explosive engine discharges;substantially as described.

3. The combination with an air-compressor, of an explosive-engineoperating the compressor, a motor, a conducting-pipe for sup plyingcompressed air to the motor, an exhaust-pipe from the explosive-engine,said exhaust-pipe jacketingthe air-conducting pipe, and the motor beingprovided with a chamber surrounding its working cylinder into whichchamber the exhaust pipe from the explosiveengine discharges. saidchamber exhausting with the exhaust from the working cylinder of themotor through a common exhaust=port3 substantially as described. V V

4. A compressed-air motor provided with a working cylinder and adistributing-chest therefor, said working cylinder anddistributing-chest containing respectively a piston and a slide-Valve,and provided further with a chamber surrounding the working cylinder anddistributing-chest, for the passage of hot gases, said exterior chamberand the working cylinder having a commonexhaust; substan-- tially asdescribed. 5 The combination with an air-compressor andanexplosive-engine operating the compressor and provided with awater-jacket, a supply-tank for obtaining the circulation of waterthrough'said jacket, said supply-tank being provided with an air-inletopening, and

a pipe leading from the supply-tank to the air-compressor, whereby theair supplied to the compressor is preheated and moistened by contactwith the water in the tank and whereby it tends to lower the temperatureof said water; substantially asdescribed. 6. The combination with anair-compressor, of a motor, a conduit for supplying compressed air fromthe compressorto the motor, and means for maintaining the temperature ofthe compressed air during its entire transmission from the compressor tothe motor; substantially as described.

7. The combination of an air-compressor, means for supplying warm moistair thereto, a motor, a conduit for supplying compressed airrfrom thecompressor to the motor, and means for maintaining the temperature ofthe ro sion from the compressor to the motor, and

means for maintaining the high temperature of the air while it isexpanding within the motor-cylinder; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

EDWARD E. PETTEE. 7 JOHN J. MOOUTOHAN. Witnesses:

ROBERT R. BLooD, OHAs. J. HENSLEY.

